LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Kentucky outshot Auburn by a 14-8 count but failed to capitalize on a number of scoring opportunities, as the 20th-ranked Tigers claimed a 3-0 victory Sunday afternoon at the UK Soccer Complex. All-SEC goalkeeper Megan Rivera recorded six saves to preserve her fifth shutout.
Kentucky tested Rivera early on, but the Auburn keeper was up to the task each time. UK?s Erin Witchey sent a line drive toward the goal in the second minute, but Rivera corralled the ball for her first save before stopping an Elisabeth Jones save moments later. The Tigers got on the board in the 15th minute when Chrissy Culver took advantage of an aggressive clearing attempt by UK goalkeeper Liz Butler.
As Culver raced toward a loose ball at the outer left corner of the penalty box, Butler beat her to the ball but her clearing attempt found Culver?s right leg. The ball deflected off of Culver and toward the goal, and the ball rolled just inside the left post, beating Butler to the goal and giving Auburn a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, UK Coach Warren Lipka received a red card and automatic ejection after disputing a no-call of a possible defensive handball in the penalty box, which would have given the Cats a penalty kick.
Kentucky nearly found the net in the 27th minute, but Rivera thwarted Kentucky?s hopes, once again. Callie Lanphier found an unattended Elisabeth Jones eight yards outside of the goal and struck a sharp pass in her direction. Jones quickly flicked a line drive toward the left side of the goal but Rivera positioned herself perfectly to record another save. Auburn?s Kristin Stewart added the Tigers? second goal in the 35th minute to give Auburn a 2-0 halftime lead.
The Cats created several scoring opportunities in the second half but failed to capitalize. Jones found Danielle Slupski eight yards from the goal in the 69th minute but Rivera batted Slupski?s line drive out of bounds to force a corner kick, which yielded nothing. AU?s Courtney Crandell added another goal before Rivera stopped Slupski again in the 78th minute. Two minutes later, Jones looped a diagonal shot over Rivera, but the ball struck the right post and rolled down the end line into Rivera?s hands.
UK?s unbeaten streak ends at six matches, as the Cats drop to 5-5-1 and 2-1-1 in conference play. Auburn improves to 8-2-1 and 3-0-1 in the SEC. Kentucky returns to the pitch Friday evening against No. 8 Florida at the UK Soccer Complex.
